Over a hundred youth[1] participants representing twelve nations gathered to work and strategise on moving towards a sustainable Growth and Development in the co-operative decade #coops2020 , by organising the ASIA PACIFIC WORKSHOP ON YOUTH & CAMPUS COOPERATIVES, graciously hosted by the Co-operative League of Thailand in association with the Thailand Consumer Cooperative Federation in Universities. The regional workshop was jointly convened by the members of the ICA-AP Committee of University (campus) cooperatives and the ICA-AP Committee on Youth Cooperation. It was held at the CLT during 17-19 September 2015. The international committees conducted their annual meetings at the workshop venue on separate dates.
Participants at the closing ceremony of the workshop.
The workshop saw student members of university cooperatives from Japan, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, India, Philippines, Thailand and a delegation of youth officers/managers of credit cooperatives in Nepal work in small groups on the three main topics discussed in the workshop which are to determine the Role of university cooperatives in a.) Ethical Consumption b.) Career Development c.) Financial literacy for youth cooperation; the group discussions and the thematic lectures delivered by international resource persons, including Mr. Matthieu Cognac, Youth employment specialist from the ILO (Bangkok office) who made the key note address. The participants shared experiences and finally adopted a Resolution on Role of Youth and University Cooperatives in moving towards sustainable growth and development in the cooperative decade (Bangkok) on 19 September 2015. The Regional Director of the ICA Asia and Pacific shared the commitment of the ICA to highlight youth movements in cooperatives at the right global platforms. He encouraged participants to engage with the ICA Asia and Pacific by sharing ideas and information on their experience and challenges in the cooperative sector.
Participants taking selfie at the cultural night.
Mr. Aditya Yadav, the youngest member of ICA’s Global Board graced the workshop with his presence at the Inauguration and affirmed the ideas of articulating the goals of sustainable development and growth for cooperatives that the workshop had set out to achieve. He gave his own example while talking about promotion of youth in management boards of cooperatives. He is 27 years old and elected to the ICA Board in Canada in 2014.
Students from Philippines at the poster event.
A Special session was conducted by Prof. Yashvantha Dongre, Dean (Commerce) Mysore University (India) on the Guidance notes issued by the ICA in April, 2015. The workshop opened on 17 September 2015 in the presence of the Dr. Kouk Donsumran, Chairman, CLT, Prof. Motoo Furtua (NFUCA) and Dr. Sukesh Zamwar (BUCCS), Chairpersons of ICA AP Committees on University/Campus Cooperatives (ICUC) and Youth Cooperation (ICYC) respectively, and closed on 19 September after a brief feedback session. Participants voiced on increasing group activity and engagement. Participants were taken for an exposure visit to the campus cooperatives at the Chualalongkorn and Kasetsart Universities during the workshop. Pictures and Videos can be found on Youth Coop on Facebook
Prof. Jo, Korea University Cooperative Federation and Mr. Balu Iyer at the valedictory ceremony of the workshop
Prior to the commencement of the workshop, the two ICA AP Committees conducted their 8th Annual ICYC and 7th Annual ICUC meetings.
[1] ICYC constitution defines youth as or under 39 years
